A good fridge can save you tons on your electric bill. Buying a model that has a good energy rating and the right amount of storage space for you is a good way of being both money conscious and environment conscious. If you have a smaller kitchen, buying an under counter fridge is the way to go. These models slide right in under your kitchen counter top and save space, plus they don't need to be mounted inside cupboards or have custom made doors to match your kitchen cabinets. As a budget choice, an under counter fridge is a great choice. But there's a lot of variety out there. The two most popular models currently on the market are the Lec R5010B and the Indesit TLAA10. We put these two models to the test to see how they compare, and which one is a better buy for you. If you're looking to spend a reasonable amount of money on a decent fridge, then read on to find out which of these two popular models is right for you...

All About the Lec R5010B...

The Lec is a great model, but it does come in more expensive than the Indesit, at around £210. It has an A+ energy rating, making it a good, efficient buy, and is CFC/HFC free, so it's soundly environmental. It's measurements come in at around 85 cm high, 50 cm wide and 54 cm deep, with a capacity of around 100 litres, so it's a fair size for an under counter model. As far as features go, it's surprisingly feature laden for a budget model. It does have a reversible door, which is convenient for awkward placement in a pre-built kitchen, a recessed handle, which is good for cleaning, and it is an automatic defrost, which also saves time and money. Allowing frost to build up in your appliance causes your energy bills to go up. It has a salad drawer, a bottle shelf and two regular shelves, which is unusual for a budget fridge; they generally just come with regular shelves. And the added bonus is that you do get a freezer compartment too, again unusual for a smaller under counter model. The Lec may come in more expensive, but you get a lot of added bonuses for your money...

What the Indesit TLAA10 Has Got...

Coming in at around £160, the Indesit is a cheaper model, but does that mean that it's lacking something? It has the same A+ energy rating as the Lec, and it's also CFC/HFC free, so is environmentally friendly. Its basic dimensions are the same as the Lec too, although its capacity is 127 litres, mostly because it lacks the freezer compartment of the Lec. It does have automatic defrost and a reversible door, however. Standard, this fridge just has the four regular shelves and the crisper, so it lacks the special storage features of the Lec. But it is a quieter model, with only a 40dB noise level, making it practical for studio or bedsit use.

The Better Buy?

In general, we like the Lec model, and think the added features, particularly the freezer compartment are worth the extra money. However, if you have no need for a freezer, maybe because you already have one, then the Indesit is probably the better buy for you since you get more fridge space for your money.